Computer system and OSD displaying method for the same

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a computer system including a computer body operated according to a predetermined operating system, and a display device having a display section for receiving a video signal from the computer body to display images on the screen thereof in response to the received video signal. The computer body includes a language information-providing section adapted to provide the display device with information about the kind of language used in the operating system. The display device includes an OSD generating section adapted to generate an OSD for setting a display environment of the display device, a memory adapted to store a plurality of languages that can be used in the OSD therein and to store the language information received from the computer body, and an OSD control section adapted to control the OSD generating section to display the OSD on the display section by means of the same language as that used in the operating system in accordance with language information.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

[0001] This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from an application entitled COMPUTER SYSTEMAND OSD CONTROLLING METHOD THEREOF filed with the Korean Industrial Property Office on Feb. 20, 2001 and there duly assigned Ser. No. 8455/2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a computer system and OSD displaying method for the computer system, and more particularly, a computer system and OSD displaying method for the computer system in which an OSD is automatically set to be displayed by means of the same language as that used in an operating system.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] An on screen display (OSD) menu is displayed on a display device, such as a monitor, by means of a specific language set by a user regardless of the language used in an operating system, such as English window or Korean window, of a computer system.

[0006] In general, the computer system includes a computer body operated according to the predetermined operating system, and the display device having a display section for receiving a video signal from the computer body to display images in response to the received video signal on the screen thereof.

[0007] Such the display device includes an OSD menu for setting a display environment of the display section. The OSD menu is activated and displayed on the display section by the selection of a menu key of a key inputting section formed at one front edge side the display device. The OSD menu displayed on the display section includes a plurality of menu icons for adjusting display environment-setting parameters, such as a shape, a color, a display language, etc., of the display section. Also, the display section includes a menu display section for displaying detailed information associated with a function description of a selected one of the menu icons or sub-menus of the selected menu icon, etc. Accordingly, a user changes or adjusts a desired display environment-setting parameter of the display device through the detailed information displayed on the menu display section.

[0008] However, the conventional display device displays the OSD menu and the detailed information in English or a specific language set by the user in the display device while the computer system is operated by an operating system such as Windows and the like supported in a language different from the language of the display device. Therefore, the display device is operated irrespective of the operating system. Accordingly, the display device needs to store a plurality of languages being used in the OSD menu including the detailed information. In order to modify a language parameter among the display environment-setting parameters, it is very inconvenient for the user to select one of the menu icons of the OSD menu and to change one language to the other language with the detailed information of the selected menu regardless of the language used in the operating system of the computer system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved system able to automatically set a language used in an OSD menu to the language used in an operating system of a computer system.

[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved computer system and OSD displaying method for the computer system able to automatically display an OSD menu by means of the same language as that of an operating system (OS) used in the computer system.

[0011] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer system including a computer body operated according to a predetermined operating system and generating language information used in the operating system. The computer system includes a display device having a display section for receiving a video signal from the computer body to display images on a screen thereof in response to the received video signal and for receiving the language information to display on the screen display menu by means of a language in accordance with the language information.

[0012] The computer system includes a language information-providing section adapted to provide the display device with information about the kind of language used in the operating system, the language information-providing section being included in the computer body. The display devices includes an OSD generating section adapted to generate an OSD for setting a display environment of the display device, a memory adapted to store a plurality of languages that can be used in the OSD therein and to store the language information generated from the language information providing section of the computer system, and an OSD control section adapted to control the OSD generating section such that the OSD is displayed on the display section by means of the same language as that used in the operating system based on the language information applied thereto from the language information-providing section upon the initial activation of the OSD, the same language being one of the plurality of languages stored in the memory. The OSD control section may control the OSD generating section to display the OSD by means of a predetermined specific language, such as an English language, set by a user if a language coincident with the language-kind-information applied to the OSD control section from the language information-providing section does not exist in the memory.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided an OSD displaying method of storing a plurality of languages that can be used in an OSD in a memory of the display device, identifying the kind of language used in an operating system of the computer body, and displaying the OSD by means of the same language as that used in the operating system if a language coincident with that used in the operating system exists in the memory based on information about the identified language.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] A more complete application of this invention, and many of the attendant advantage thereof, will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar component, wherein:

[0015]FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a display device having an OSD menu activated thereon constructed according to the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of a computer system and a display device constructed according to the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the process of controlling a display of the OSD on the display device in a computer system;

[0018] FIGS. 4A-4D are OSD menu screens showing the process of selecting a language in the display device; and

[0019] FIGS. 5A-5C show a display selection of the display device displaying the OSD menu in the language in accordance with the language information of the operating system of the computer system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, a display device 15 includes a display section 10 for displaying an On Screen Display (OSD) menu 1 or images on a screen thereof in response to a video signal applied thereto from an external computer body, and a key inputting section 12 formed at one front edge side of display device 15 and disposed to be close to a lower end part of display section 10 for generating a control signal to control an OSD menu 1 of display section 10, such as color, size, language, etc.

[0021] Key inputting section 12 includes a menu key 12 a for activating an OSD menu 1 on display section 10, four directional keys 12 b, i.e., UP/DOWN/LEFT/RIGHT keys for moving a pointer indicated on OSD menu 1 to select a desired menu and/or adjusting the selected menu, and an exit or proceed key 12 c for closing OSD menu 1 or replacing a present menu with a previous upper menu or a next menu.

[0022] When menu key 12 a of key inputting section 12 is selected to activate OSD menu 1, a plurality of menu icons 3 for adjusting environmental parameters, such as color, size, position, language, etc., of display device 15 are displayed on display section 10. Simultaneously displayed below menu icons 3 is a menu display section 5 for displaying a description relative to each of menu icons 3 or sub-menus with respect to each menu. Since a menu icon 16 for selecting a language displayed on OSD menu 1 is also included in menu icons 3, a user can change a language-setting parameter of OSD menu 1 by clicking language menu icon 16.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, a computer system according to the present invention includes a computer body 20 operated according to a predetermined operating system and adapted to provide display device 15 with Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) video signals and a data signal associated with language information relating to the language used in the operating system, and display device 15 having display section 10 for displaying images on the screen thereof in response to the video signals applied thereto from computer body 20 through a cable connector 50. Computer body 20 includes a language information-providing section 22 for providing display device 15 with language information data about the language used in the operating system. Computer body 20 is controlled under the operating system, such as Windows and the like, and has language information used in the operating system stored therein.

[0024] Display device 15 includes an I/O connector 26 coupled to computer body 20 through a cable connector 50, a video signal processing section 28, a display section 10, a monitor control section 30, an OSD generating section 34, and a memory 36 storing control data and language information data. The I/O connector 26 is connected to the computer body 20 for receiving the RGB video signals and the data signal associated with the language information and the control signal from computer body 20. Video signal processing section 28 converts the RGB video signals applied thereto from computer body 20 through I/O connector 26 into an image signal. Display section 10 displays the image thereon in response to the image signal. The monitor control section 30 receives the data signal from computer body 20 through I/O connector 26 and controls a function of display device 15. OSD generating section 34 processes OSD data applied thereto from monitor control section 30 to display OSD menu 1 on display section 10 through video signal processing section 28. Memory 36 stores a plurality of languages that can be used in the OSD menu display therein. Monitor control section 30 includes an OSD control section 32 for controlling OSD generating section 34 such that OSD menu 1 is displayed on display section 10 by means of the same language that used in the operating system based on the language information data which is applied thereto from language information-providing section 22 upon the initial activation of the OSD menu display function. OSD control section 32 generates an OSD control signal to control OSD generating section 34 according to the user's key input through key inputting section 12. OSD generating section 34 processes the OSD data from OSD menu 1 according to the OSD control signal outputted from OSD control section 32 and applies a signal to video signal processing section 28 to display OSD menu 1 on display section 10.

[0025] Memory 36 connected to monitor control section 30 has descriptions relative to menu icons 3 or sub-menus with respect to each menu, etc., stored therein by means of a plurality of different language characters, such as Korean language characters, English language characters, etc.

[0026] Therefore, when the computer system is booted to execute a specific operating system, drivers of peripheral equipment connected to computer body 20, such as a printer, a display device, etc., are installed in computer body 20. After the drivers are installed, computer body 20 provides display device 15 with the language information used in the specific operating system and stored in language information-providing section 22 of computer body 20.

[0027] The language information provided to display device 15 from computer body 20 is applied to OSD control section 32 of monitor control section 30 through I/O connector 26. OSD control section 32 reads out the language information data representing a specific language character to be used in OSD menu 1 coincident with the received language information of the specific operation system stored in memory 36 to modify a language-setting parameter of OSD menu 1.

[0028] Accordingly, when a user selects menu key 12 a of key inputting section 12 to activate OSD menu 1, OSD control section 32 generates an OSD control signal to control OSD generating section 34. At this time, OSD generating section 34 processes the OSD menu data according to OSD control signal outputted from OSD control section 32 to apply the processed signal to video signal processing section 28 to display OSD menu 1 on display section 10. At this point, terms and menus displayed on OSD menu 1 are displayed by means of the same language characters as that of the language information provided from language information-providing section 22 and used in the specific operation system.

[0029]FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the process of controlling a display of the OSD menu 1 on display device 15 in a computer system constructed according to the present invention.

[0030] A plurality of languages that can be used in an OSD menu 1 are stored in memory 36 of display device 15 in step SI. When a power supply is applied to the computer system, computer body 20 installs system devices and drivers of the peripheral equipment in order. When display device 15 is installed, computer body 20 provides display device 15 with the language information used in an operating system currently used in computer body 20. At this point, the language information provided to display device 15 is applied to OSD control section 32 of monitor control section 30 through I/O connector 26 in step S20. Then, OSD control section 32 determines whether or not an OSD menu displaying language which is coincident with the language used in the operating system is stored in the memory 36 in step S30. If it is determined at step S30 that the OSD menu displaying language coincident with language information representing the language used in the operating system is stored in memory 36, the program proceeds to step S40 where OSD control section 32 sets OSD menu displaying language as a language coincident with the language used in the operating system. On the other hand, if it is determined at step S30 that the OSD menu displaying language coincident with the language used in the operating system is not stored in memory 36, the program proceeds to step S50 in which OSD control section 32 sets the OSD menu displaying language such that the OSD menu 1 is displayed by means of a basically designated language. Typically, the basically designated language is English.

[0031]FIG. 4A shows an OSD menu 1 displayed in English language characters on display device 15. FIG. 4B shows a sub-menu for selecting a language for the OSD menu 1. FIGS. 4C and 4D show Korean and English selected by the user, respectively.

[0032]FIG. 5A shows a sub-menu displayed in Korean language and English language on display device 15 in accordance with the selection of the user, respectively. FIGS. 5A and 5B show that the language used in the OSD menu 1 is the same as the language used in the operating system, such as English language window system or Korean language window system. FIG. 5C shows that the language used in the OSD menu 1 is different from the language used in the operating system.

[0033] As described above, the present invention provides the language information used in an operating system of the computer system to display device 15, so that OSD control section 32 of display device 15 sets a language to be displayed on OSD menu 1 to be coincident with the language used in the operating system. As a result, a user does not have to modify a language-setting parameter of OSD menu 1 in order to set the language for OSD menu 1 to the language used in the operating system. This is very convenient for the user who does not use English language as a language for the OSD menu 1.

[0034] In the meantime, although there has been described only the case where computer body 20 is separated from the display device 15 above, it will be understood that an application of an automatic language establishment for the OSD menu 1 is possible in case of employing an operating system supported by different languages of each nation in a monitor having an OSD displaying function such as a web monitor, a PC-integrated monitor, etc.

[0035] As can be seen from the foregoing, the present invention provides a computer system in which an OSD is set automatically to be displayed by means of the same language as that used in an operating system upon the initial activation of the OSD menu 1.

[0036] While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer system including a predetermined operating system, comprising: a language information-providing section adapted to store and generate language information about the kind of first language used in said operating system; an on screen display (OSD) generating section generating an OSD for setting a display environment of a display device; a memory storing a plurality of second languages used in said OSD; and an OSD control section controlling said OSD generating section to display said OSD on a display section of said display device in one of said first and second languages.
 2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said one of said first and second languages is said first language used in said operating system.
 3. The computer system of claim 1, with said OSD control section being set to control said OSD generating section to display said OSD in said first language in accordance with said language information generated from said language information-providing section.
 4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said OSD control section controls said OSD generating section to display said OSD by means of one of said second language when said first language is not one of said second languages stored in said memory.
 5. The computer system of claim 4, wherein said one of said second languages is English language.
 6. An OSD displaying method, comprising the steps of: storing a first language used in an operating system of a computer in a memory; storing a plurality of second languages used in an OSD in said memory; making a determination of whether said first language used in said operating system is one of said second languages; and displaying said OSD by means of one of said first language and said second languages in accordance with said determination.
 7. The OSD displaying method of claim 4, further comprising the step of displaying the OSD by means of one of said second languages when said first language is not one of said second languages.
 8. A computer system operated by an operating system with a predetermined language, comprising: a computer body generating video signal data in response to the operation of said operating system; and said computer body storing language information data about said language and generating said language information data.
 9. The computer system of claim 8, further comprising a display device coupled to said computer body, receiving said video signal data and said language information data, said display device displaying an OSD in accordance with said language information data.
 10. The computer system of claim 9, with said display device displaying a visual image in accordance with said video signal data.
 11. The computer system of claim 9, with said display device comprising a memory storing said language information data.
 12. The computer system of claim 9, with said display device comprising: an OSD generator generating said OSD; and an OSD controller coupled between said computer body and said OSD generator, controlling said OSD generator, controlling said OSD generator to display said OSD in said language in response to said language information data.
 13. The computer system of claim 9, with said display device comprising a memory storing said language information data, said memory storing a plurality of second language information data.
 14. The computer system of claim 13, with said display device displaying said OSD in accordance with one of said second language information data when said second language information do not have said first language information data.
 15. The computer system of claim 9, with said display device comprising a first key activating said OSD and a second key setting said display device to display said OSD in said language in accordance with said language information data.
 16. A computer system, comprising: a display device having an input terminal adapted to be coupled to a computer body operated by an operating system; and a memory coupled to said input terminal, receiving language information data representing a language used in said operating system through said input terminal, and storing said language information data.
 17. The computer system of claim 16, with said display device displaying an OSD in said language in response to said language information data.
 18. The computer system of claim 16, with said memory storing second language information data representing a second language used in an OSD.
 19. The computer system of claim 18, with said display device displaying said OSD in one of said first language and said second language in accordance with one of said first language information data and said second language information data.
 20. The computer system of claim 18, with said display device displaying said OSD in said first language in response to said first language information data when one of said second language information data is identical to said first language information data.
 21. The computer system of claim 18, with said display device displaying said OSD in one of said second language in response to said second language information data when one of said second language information data is not identical to said first language information data.
 22. The computer system of claim 18, with said display device displaying said OSD in said first language in response to said first language information data regardless of said second language information data.
 23. A method in a computer system, comprising the steps of: storing in a memory a language information data representing a language used in an operating system operating said computer system; and displaying an OSD in said language in accordance with said language information data stored in said memory.
 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of: storing in said memory a plurality of second language information data representing languages used for said OSD; and displaying said OSD in one of said first language and said second language in response to said one of said first language information data and said second language information data. 